observers say mitt romney did what he needed to do, while the president seemed more low-key. we have coverage at the university of denver, where that debate was held. maureen naylor is in san jose, and amber lee is in walnut creek. we're going to begin right now with eric rasmussen. >> reporter: both president obama and mitt romney focused on their plans for the economy, and even had a lengthy debate about keeping obamacare. >> reporter: while the first debate started with a friendly greeting, even a mention of the president's 20th wedding anniversary, mitt romney came out swinging on the economy. >> the president has a view very similar to the view he had when he ran four years ago. that a bigger government, spending more, taxing more, regulating more. >> are we going to double down on the policies that got us into this mess, or do we embrace a new economic patriotism. >> reporter: romney often looked directly at the president who instead addressed most of his responses to the audience, or the moderator. the debate remained sizzled, mitt romney went after the president for g